United States guidelines and regulations in animal experimentation

Summary

The use of animals in biomedical research is a privilege granted by society, and the rules and regulations that govern this usage are in place to ensure the welfare of the laboratory animal subjects. The IACUC is the institutional commitment to this protection, and IACUC members continually challenge themselves and others to find a balance between achieving both scientific and animal welfare objectives. This is accomplished by incorporating the three Rs (reduction replacement and refinement) into animal usage in research, teaching and testing. IACUC members can be advocates for both the animals and the scientist. A good working relationship between the committee and the attending and/or laboratory animal veterinarian will promote identification, interpretation and clarification of the major rules and regulations. It is ultimately the responsibility of each investigator to comply with regulations for the welfare and safety of the animals and people involved in any research project. Animal models used in inflammation research often have specific considerations that need to be addressed to minimize issues of pain and distress. This includes the use of well-defined endpoints, the proper use of pharmacological interventions and the use of other pain-alleviating methods.